Redken Forceful 23 Super Strength Finishing Spray – Look at the label

Redken Forceful 23 Super Strength Finishing Spray is the best selling hairspray on Amazon this week. Let’s look at the label to see what makes it stick. (Get it? Hairspray…it sticks your hair in place? Ah, I love cosmetic science humor!)

The most important ingredient I want to discuss is NOT in this product. That ingredient is WATER. Back in the late 1990s, new regulations came into effect which limited the amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (aka VOCs) that are allowed in hairsprays. VOCs include the propellants, alcohol, and other fast evaporating chemicals. To satisfy the new law, most companies added water to their formulas because it was cheap. However, when you apply a water containing hairspray it causes your hair to droop almost instantly.

Some companies went the more expensive route and used an ingredient called Hydrofluorocarbon 152a. This is a propellant that does NOT count as a VOC which means you can use it to formulate water free formulas. However, it is costly so it’s usually found in more upscale brands. If you’re looking for a good hairspray, look at the label to make sure it contains Hydrofluorocarbon 152a and NOT water.

I got worried when you recommended making sure our product contains a hydrofluorocarbon , thinking that would contribute to depleting Earth’s ozone layer and also increase global warming. However, some research using reputable sources shows it actually has ZERO potential for ozone depletion, and comparatively mild potential to contribute to global warming/climate change. See:http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/wiki/Substance:1,1-Difluoroethane
(RSC is the UK’s Royal Society of Chemistry)